Winter Activity Guide to the Best of Lake Louise, Banff National Park

Those of us living in Southern Alberta, Canada, know that Lake Louise is the place to go if we want snow! Even when the prairies are dry, bleak, and completely brown, it is always a winter wonderland with many activities at Lake Louise.

Even if we don’t receive snow in Calgary, there may be snow in Lake Louise, though, sitting on the trees like giant mushroom caps. Trails are groomed and tracked for skiing or snowshoeing in winter. Also, the lake is cleared for ice skating (with a huge ice castle built on it!)

I love magical Lake Louise and hope you will add it to your winter bucket list if you haven’t been fortunate enough to visit. So, without further ado, here are my top 6 favorite winter activities in Lake Louise.

Cross country skiing at Lake Louise

Hike or ski across frozen Lake Louise to see the frozen waterfalls at the far end. Photo: Tanya Koob

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1. Go snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or fat biking on the village trails

Stop in at the Visitor Centre in the village for a trail map of the area. During the winter season, the Moraine Lake Road is closed to vehicles, and it converts to a 7-mile long trail (one way) for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or fat biking. But, if you make it to the end of the official trail, you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous views of the lake.

For a snowshoe-specific trail, I recommend trying the Louise Creek Trail. This trail connects the Alpine Centre in Lake Louise, the Village, and the Upper Lake in a 3.5-mile-long trip one way. Hike up to the lake with your ice skates and grab a coffee in the Chateau. Then, enjoy a beautiful leisurely hike back down to the Alpine Centre.

To see views of Louise Falls, I recommend snowshoers and skiers walk/ski across Lake Louise to the far end.

The Bow River Loop is another great option for skiing from the Alpine Centre. This 4-mile-long loop starts and ends at the Village.  You can hop on the trail right from the hostel.

Finally, the Visitor Centre can recommend many other trails for whichever sport you prefer. Or you can spend a few days here and try them all!

Read More: Snowshoeing To Lake Minnestimma, Alberta, Canada

frozen Louise Falls, AB

Louise Falls at the back of Lake Louise, a short ski or hike away. Photo: Tanya Koob

2. Spend a day at the Lake Louise Ski Resort

Spend a day at the Lake Louise Ski Resort and enjoy downhill skiing (the obvious choice) or various other activities, including guided snowshoe hikes, sightseeing gondola rides, and tubing.

My son and I enjoyed the scenic half-day snowshoe tour at the resort, which includes a 30-minute return gondola ride. This tour is an excellent activity for those who do not ski but want to ride the gondola. The tour explores the ridgetop above, just outside the ski area. Then, you can enjoy magnificent views from the top of the resort.

Read More: Beyond Downhill Skiing: Winter Fun at Resorts in the Canadian Rockies

woman and son looking at lake while snowshoeing at ski resort

Enjoy a guided snowshoe tour at the Lake Louise Ski Resort. Photo: Tanya Koob

3. Go ice skating on Lake Louise

Visitors can try ice skating on the few rinks always cleared off on the lake and play on mountains of snow around the lake. Lake Louise is in one of the most beautiful locations in the Canadian Rockies and is beside an ice castle usually built in time for Christmas. The Chateau beside the lake provides skates for rent.

You can also attend the Ice Magic Festival, which is held each January. The festival has many family-friendly activities and features an ice carving competition as the main highlight. The completed ice sculptures and the ice castle can be viewed throughout the winter until they melt in spring.

If you’re visiting with children, make sure you also bring sleds with you to enjoy on the hill located beside the Chateau. My son had a fabulous time skating, sledding, and playing on gigantic mountains of snow when we were at Lake Louise last winter.

Read More: 10 Ways To Get Outside and Explore Your Local Backyard This Winter

Ice skating at Lake Louise, AB

Ice skating doesn’t get better than this at Lake Louise. Photo: Tanya Koob

4. Go dog sledding with Kingmit Dog Sled Tours

Kingmit Dog Sled Tours is Banff National Park’s only professional dog sledding company. Sign up for a tour and enjoy flying along the Great Divide Trail in a cozy sled pulled by a beautiful team of Alaskan Huskies. A trained musher guides each sled, but you can try driving it together with your guide on the return journey.

Dogsledding is a traditional means of travel in the Canadian Rockies and is a one-of-a-kind winter activity to try when visiting Lake Louise.

Read More: Benefits and Tips for Snowshoeing with Pets

Dog sledding at Lake Louise

Try dog sledding while at Lake Louise! Photo: Banff & Lake Louise Tourism / Paul Zizka Photography

5. Take an overnight backcountry adventure into Skoki Lodge

Sign up for a guided backcountry snowshoe or ski trip into Skoki Lodge for 1-3 nights, including meals.

The journey begins at the Lake Louise Ski Resort with a ride up the gondola. Then, travel down a chairlift to Temple Lodge on the backside of the resort. You’ll hike or ski 7 miles from here into the lodge over two alpine passes and across scenic Ptarmigan Lake.

Read More:
In Search of the Ultimate Backcountry Ski Lodge (on snowshoes)
Best Backcountry Basecamps In The Canadian Rockies
Easy Ways To Stay Overnight In The Backcountry Of The Canadian Rockies Year-Round As A Family

Skoki Lodge, Alberta

Sign up for a guided backcountry ski or snowshoe trip into Skoki Lodge from the Lake Louise Resort. Photo: Tanya Koob

6. Take a day tour to explore Banff National Park

Visitors spending several days at Lake Louise will want to explore a bit beyond the village and the lake.

South of Lake Louise

I recommend a day trip to the town of Banff, which is a 40-minute drive away. You can visit the hot springs or ride on the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain.

Moreover, you can go for a short drive to Lake Minnewanka, Banff’s longest lake.

child with arms up after riding Banff Gondola

Enjoy the views at the Banff Gondola! Photo: Tanya Koob

North of Lake Louise

Going the other direction from Lake Louise, I recommend driving the scenic Icefields Parkway, one of the most beautiful highways in Canada. The Parkway heads towards the Columbia Icefields and Jasper National Park (great for snowshoeing).

Also, stop at Bow Summit for a 30-minute hike to the viewpoint overlooking Peyto Lake. The lake is one of the most photographed lakes in the Canadian Rockies and is a 30-minute drive from Lake Louise to Bow Summit.

However, reaching the Peyto Lake viewpoint is typically easy with a pair of snowshoes or cross-country skis. You will follow a road (closed to vehicles in winter) up to the summer tour bus parking lot. From there, it is a 5-minute walk to the viewing platform.  There is avalanche danger beyond the platform. So, please return the same way and don’t explore too far afield.

For more information on touring Banff National Park or the Icefields Parkway, stop at the Lake Louise Visitor Centre for maps, detailed brochures, and suggestions for where to safely hike in winter without avalanche danger.

Read More:
A Winter Explorer’s Guide To The Best of Banff National Park
Spring Adventures On Alberta’s Icefields Parkway
Frozen Waterfalls and Ice Walks In Banff National Park

Peyto Lake- Icefields Parkway, AB

Ski or hike to the Peyto Lake Viewpoint on the Icefields Parkway. Photo: Tanya Koob

Affordable Accommodations at Lake Louise

While there is no shortage of luxury hotels and resorts at or near Lake Louise, we prefer to stay at the Lake Louise Alpine Centre.  The Alpine Centre is an upscale version of a youth hostel, with a communal kitchen and fireside lounge area. There is also a restaurant on-site for those wanting the occasional break from cooking.

Book a private room at the Alpine Centre if you want more privacy for your family or group. There are several room options, and some come with a private bathroom.

Ski or snowshoe right out the door of the Alpine Centre, where you’ll find trails leading up to the lake and along the scenic Bow River. You’ll be a short walk from the Village Centre, where you’ll find rentals for any sport you wish to pursue during your stay. Also, you can grab a free shuttle to the nearby ski hill when you’re in the village.

Lake Louise Alpine Centre

Find affordable accommodations at the Lake Louise Alpine Centre. Photo: Tanya Koob

This article was originally published on January 16, 2019. New information was added on November 8, 2020, with the most recent update on November 10, 2023. 

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